MISS UNIVERSE OFFICIAL SITE | RETURN TO MENU
Emiri Miyasaka - Miss Universe Japan 2009
By: Héctor Joaquín Colón González for Critical Beauty & Héctor Joaquín Blog
Tell us something about your family, your childhood and your experience in beauty pageants.
I am the only child in my family. My mom wanted many children also I have always been her treasure because she could
not have more children. It made us very close with my parents. I still live with them in the fashion district of Tokyo
in a peaceful apartment complex. When I was a child I was very boyish and people most of the time assumed that I was a boy.
Also, it came as a surprise when I entered the Miss International competition.
In fact I applied to both
Miss Universe Japan and Miss International, but the first competition to accept applications was Miss International
so I enrolled in this one first. Then I placed 3rd. Also, I could not compete in MUJ until the year later.
I was disappointed to have to wait one year, but at the end I understood that I would gain more experience and that
would give me more chances to win MUJ. They are such different competitions in many ways. MUJ gives you the opportunity
to show your own personality and asks you during interviews to give your honest opinion about different topics, even
taboo ones, which is exciting and liberating. Also the fashion statement that is required from the candidates during
the competition is refreshing and challenging, everyone learned a lot during the five months leading to the final. I also
learn rock-climbing, dance, kickboxing and martial art when I thought the training would resume to walking, speech,
makeup and styling classes. How exciting, I truly feel that I can do anything now and that nothing can stop me anymore!
What is your motto? What does that motto mean to you?
Always treat people as you would like to be treated.
Some people say that pageants are degrading to women. What do you say to them?
Who are those people? Which planet are they coming from? LOL
If you could change one thing about you, what would it be?
I would love to be able to fly...
If you had the opportunity to meet a famous politician, what would you ask and why?
I would ask North Korea leader, Kim Jong-Il: "What is your vision?". I really would like
to understand his mind, and why he starves and oppresses his people. What is the goal, the reason behind his ruling dynasty,
if there is one?
What is in your bag right now?
My favorite pair of high-heels to be repaired.... my i-Phone, my agenda,
my Guerlain mascara and my digital camera. Oh.. and the book I am currently reading in English, “All The Pain That Money Can Buy”
by Matthew Wright. It is about Jackie Onassis’s life.
What was your biggest reason to compete in Miss Universe Japan?
To challenge myself, to push my boundaries to the extreme, to learn how to succeed at its best.
How are you preparing for the Miss Universe pageant?
I have been modeling for a few years while I was still studying, and when I entered the
Miss Universe Japan competition,
Ines told me that I was way too skinny to win. She kept telling me that I should put on 5 kilos. It was hard for me to gain
weight, but I started eating much more and more frequently, and with the help of Erica Angyal, our nutritionist and best-seller
author, I indeed gained 5 kilos.
Now, I am working on keeping up the weight, but I am toning up my body to its extreme. My routine consists of the following:
On an empty stomach early mornings, I run in the pool close to my home. I jog around my neighborhood with weight attached to
my ankles. I go to the gym and lift weight. I take extreme dance class in a hot room for 2 hours with Steven my personal trainer,
based on Tracy Anderson method. I met Tracy a few weeks ago and Ines asked her to design a special workout based on my muscular body structure.
Tracy is now touring with Madonna, whom she trains for several years now. Also how luckier can I be?
What is a normal day in the life of Miss Universe Japan?
There are no normal days as Miss Universe Japan, trust me! It is 1,000 percent every day.... so much to do, my schedule is so
full with appearances for sponsors, movie premieres to attend, red carpets for big events, interviews and more interviews,
lessons for Miss Universe (hair styling, make-up, communications). Miguel, my walking coach is arriving on the 10th.
He is Venezuelan, and he will be flying from Bogota, Colombia where he lives right now. Ines bought my wardrobe in London
(Arrogant Cat), it is very "Studio 54" and I screamed in delight when she showed me everything she had bought after returning
from her trip last week. We are now busy fitting everything and taking pictures for my style book, which will be my
ultimate bible at Miss Universe.
Each day I will have three options to dress up. Everything is classified in my book:
photo of the dress with matching
sunglasses, matching shoes and accessories, also the make up and hairstyle to match "the look". Nothing is left to a hazard,
everything is prepared and orchestrated. You know girls, sometimes we feel confused in the mornings. "What am I going to
wear today?" And you try tons of different clothes which pile up on the bed at the end... wasting time, precious time.
In fact I will have time to spend on other things, as my wardrobe is planned in advance. I just need to open my book
and BINGO! It is all there! Even more incredible is that everything is packed into Ziploc bags with the date on it, for a
specific event. It makes it so easier to find.
As Miss Japan Universe, which charities do you support?
My favorite one is the Room to Read foundation.
What do you think are the most important qualities to win the Miss Universe crown?
Intelligence, extreme confidence and personality enhanced with looks. I watch many videos
and documentaries
about Miss Universe and I also have the chance to speak with Miyako Miyazaki, Kurara Chibana, Riyo Mori and Hiroko Mima,
all of them placed at Miss Universe and made a memorable impact with their performance. Also I am learning all the
behind the scenes strategies needed to perform well during the month I will spend in the Bahamas.
If you had the chance to promote Japan abroad, what traits about your country would you emphasize and why?
A country which emphasizes patience, perseverance and politeness as the ultimate national pride.
How do you define the role of women in your country at this moment?
Women are definitely emerging right now. They are the silent dragon which has been waiting patiently
to make a move. It is currently an exciting time for women in my country.
What kind of profession would you like to pursue?
Before becoming Miss Japan, I wanted to be a lawyer; this is why I studied law as my major for 4 years.
But now, with my title and all the opportunities ahead of me, I would like to work as a sports reporter.
Do you think you deserve to be crowned Miss Universe on August 23rd in The Bahamas?
There is nothing that you deserve in life. I believe you have to work hard for it, and this is
exactly what I am doing right now: working hard!
How has your family influenced your life?
They have taught me respect and teamwork values. They taught me to be a confident woman with a big
dream for my life.
If you had the opportunity to fulfill a dream for your country at this moment, what would it be and why?
I would like to see a woman becoming the next Prime Minister because women in general are kind, peaceful
and intuitive, they know how to suggest, instead of dictating.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF INES LIGRON
^ BACK TO UP ^
2009 CRITICAL BEAUTY. All rights reserved.
